By T Greyeyes
Delson McCorrister has been elected as the off-reserve Community Fund Trustee for the Peguis First Nation Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Trust.
McCorrister received 41 votes in the July 14 election, defeating Akela Hodgson, who received 25 votes, and Sherri Sinclair, who received 13 votes. A total of 79 ballots were cast, with no rejected ballots.
Hodgson was named Alternate Trustee #1, while Sinclair will serve as Alternate Trustee #2.
The Community Fund Trustee is responsible for helping oversee the Peguis TLE Community Fund in accordance with the trust agreement and in the interests of Peguis First Nation members.
Not all were satisfied with the election this year.
Prior to the vote, former Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) Trust Nominating Committee co-chair Hal Sutherland publicly questioned the eligibility criteria used for trustee candidates.
Sutherland alleged the criteria posted for the election differed from those approved by Peguis First Nation members in 2008.
Specifically, he argued the published requirements prohibited only criminal records involving financial matters, whereas the membership-approved version stated that a trustee must not have a criminal record. Sutherland said the discrepancy had been brought to the attention of responsible parties before the election but was not corrected.
Sutherland already sits on the Peguis First Nation Real Estate Trust. And there is no provision keeping people from sitting on more than one board.